Truck driving mechanism



Sept. 4, 1945. M. e. CLAY TRUCK DRIVING MECHANISM 3 Sheeis-Sheet 1 FiledJuly 9, 194

frzz 67225 I J/Z/f/YZZ/G C/gy V W M 12/41 Sept. 4, 1945. M. s. CLAY I2,384,366

TRUCK DRIVING MECHANISM Filed July.9, 1943 3 snets-sneet z Sept. 4,1945.

M. G. CLAY TRUCK DRIVING MECHANISM Filed July 9, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Sept. 4, 1945 13 3 we .TRUCKLDRIVING MECHANISM r 1' Gs Cl ay,Chicago, 111., assignor'to' lh 7 Beardsley &' Piper Company, Chicago, v

' v corporation of, Illinois 7 1 Application Jin ls, 194s,serialNdisasi'i- "Yaci ii isl (c1.105101) The present invention relatesgenerally to mechanism for use in "driving a truck hack and forth alonga track. More particularly the invention relates to that tyPe OfnriVin'gmechanism that is designedprimarily for use'inconnection With a truckhaving a transversely extending aXle with a pair of traclrerigagingtraction wheelsat its ends, and comprises (-1) "a reversible electricmotor, (2) a gear typespeed reducing unit which is connected to thearmature shaft of'th'e'electric' motor for drive thereby, (3) adriveshait which forms a part of, and is driven 'by, the-gears ofthefunit and is arranged so that it extends-transverse 1y of the truck andis in parallel and in'laterally spaced relation with the axle 'forthe-''tra'ction' wheels, andil) a pair of chain'and sprocketcom nectionswhich serve drivably-to connect the drive shaft to the wheels,andconsist of sprockets-n the ends of thedrive 'shaft; sprocket Wheelson the traction wheels and endless chain's arou'ndthe sprockets andsprocket wheels. 1: i-

One object of the invention is to provide a truck driving mechanism ofthis type which is an improvement "upon, and has certain "advert tagesover, previously designed truck] driving mechanism and is charaCteriZedby eiicefitionally high eificien'cy and-long life and alsocompact nessand simplicity of design and construction;

Another object o'f'the 'invent'ion is" to provide a truck drivingmechanism ofthe type under consideration in which the electric motor,speedreducing unit, andid-rive shaft are in the form of a'unit and-aremounted on the'truck so that they may he slid or adjustedlongitudinallyof thetruck in order to-take'up any looseness whichm'aydevelop' -in*the endless chains, of the chain and sprocket connections.f 1

Another 0bject*'0f the invention is, to provide in'connection witha'tru'ck driving mechanism of the last mentioned character slide typebearings for rotata;bly'.supporting the ends of the drive shaft togetherwith simple and noveljmeans for sliding" the hearings inorder to efiectlongitudinaladj us'tment ofuthe'v motor, speed reducingunit anddrive'shaft for chain take up purposes.

Afurther, object of theiinventionis to provide a' truck'drivingmechanism of type and character under consideration .in"which theelectric motor is supported sothat iniaddi tion to being slidablelengthwise of the track it is free to swin bodily abofut axis'foithezdrive shaft andzthe 'iinb t a en r eme e i u es es en me'ansfoiili'miting swinging of the motor and; ab-

sorbing shock 'which' normally results; when the motor is started inconnection-"with drive of'the truck along its track.''-' v A stillfurther'obje'ct of the-invention is topicvide a truck drivingmechanism-which-is general; 1y of new and improvedconstructioriandnotonly is highly efiic'ient in operation butalso isfcapa ble ofbeing producedat a compara'tively low cost Other objects of theinvention and thevarious advantages and ch'aracteristic's 0f the presentdriving mechanism will be apparent from a :consideration of thefollowing detaileddescription. The invention consists in the I severalnovel fea' tures which are hereinafter set folth 'an'd 'are moreparticularly defined 'by claims at the conclusion hereof. r :1 .t 41,151: In the drawings Which accompany and form' a part of thisspecification or di s'closure and 'i'n which like numerals 0f referencedenote' -corre sponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 isa side view of a-truck having'ap-' plied to the tractionwheels anemon driving mechanism embodying the invention Figure 2 is anenlarged side-e1evation o th improved mechanisni showing the -contruction and arrangement of the chainand sprocket driving connectionsbetween tl'ie ends oft-he drive shaft and the aide vforathejtractionwheels of the truck; IV.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the mechanismillustratingin :detail #tbe mount whereby the electric motor of the mechanism ispermitted .to slide longitudinally of v the truck and is also cushionedagainst shock due was tendency to swing bodilyvaround the axis of thedrive shaft in connection with startingthe'reof; I f Figure 4 isavertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of 1Figure -2 andshowing the manner in whichzt'he'axle forthetraction wheels of the truckis j.ournal1ed;'- i ii Figure 5- is a: vertical transverse 1 sectiontaken on the line 5-:5;of.Figure 2 and-i1lustrating in detail themanneri'n which the bearings 'for supporting the I ends "of sthekdriveshaft of I themechanism are mounted for 'sliding movement lengthwise ofthe truckyi; 1:. 3; t H: i Figure 6lis alongitudinalisection of-one ofthe drive shaftsupportinglbea'rings, showing-in detall the manner inwhich suchbearing' is slidably mounted, and illustrating? theconstruction and design of the: adjusting means therefor; and

Figure '7;is. a transverse sectionon the line 1-1 of,Figure6.;; 5 i-J Iin Y The drivingmechanism which is shown in the drawings constitutes thepreferredformror'embodiment-of the invention;: It' is zillustrated inopen bottom, a horizontally extendingendless'i conveyor beneath thehopper an up tanding bucket conveyor at the discha'r'ge "n he errd lessconveyor, and a rotary projecton'for fori'r'i ing the sand that isdelivered by the bucket conveyor into wads and slinging su'enwadsi'rlt'o subjacent flasks, and these parts or elements are mounted on thetruck.

.l e ruck 8;. om rises-apa mf. ma n; at ra y spaced parallel channelbeams ;;l0- and, is Sup; p r e a titsfrontendibx way pfapair of n edraill-e sasi gid e i wheelsrll; a d str t e en by Way o rain ofinanedgvra len a in t action wh els I 2; i Jean n n th ru the d-that is;sppportcdb th t a tiomi hee s embod sa pa r offl ic lyl xtend ng chann leams J3; a a hai eoizhqr zontal y i ext din channel gloeams w r14:Thejif vertically :rextending. chatirieltbeams 13; a're connectedto,iand :d'epend fOm,'..i3hB. lEfi l-' en fiioii he. main ,chan el eam H!.o rthl s ruck and'arercros c ne tedi y ,vmain oii pla e :1 :Therarespac d laterally pa:rt the same distance as the main channelbeams'wii'ar ;arra i edlsoet atjthe webs; thereof extend le gthwise f th truck;and. their flan es project eoutwa s s. h P13426315 ,is welded or, erwifixed y; secnnedzltoz th fr nt. (flan es of he ve ti allyeXte-IidI-.chann l beams: 1.3-. The ho izon l y exten n ;ohannel beams "I?! arei'arranged so that the websthere'qf extend vertically, and alsolengthw s othe-tru k and theirlflan es PIQJ' sot. iQLl W IdS- ($1. 8" $110 11; es-10f, the 1 beams I u derlie; andiare ;fix yfse ..t0;: the lower endsiit e ..-ve c l y;e tend ng channel beams 5am fibl h'fi ainhtrandiareWelded or otherwise fixedly secured to, the lower corners of thegplatel5; he rear. ends .Ofjthe beams IMpm'iectFJ'a'rbestshown inElgures,-2-.;and '3.-

horizontally extending channeilbea'm lfli serves to cross conneet thehorizontally; extendin fchann'el TbEEtIIl-S iand lds such bleamsfin'fixed'lateraliy'spaced at t xtends. between; and: ispmelded *atitslendsrifo the front ,ends of the :beams and is arranged, so:thatsthefi'web thereof extends reversible type and comprises a casing26 and an annature (not shown). The armature is mounted on, androtatably supported by, a shaft -21; *electric'rhotor 26 is sopositioned that the armature and" shaft extend lengthwise of the truckmid-sis substantially horizontal. The rearendofth'e-armature shaft 21projects rearhorizontally and; the-iilanges :profi'ectdownwards- Thetraction wheels IZ 'aI'ekeYed'ormtherwise fixedly seicured; .to; the,ends PDT an taxlel H; flhe latter; shown I111 Figured; extends? throughra tubularvshaft -18; andiisjournalled atiits en'dsfin: a pair- Qfba-rings'r-l 8 ;in,'.:-the 2ehds;' of: the *tubu'l'a'r shaft. .{Sllchshaft ,;extends *transverselyrof the truck 8 and has the ends thereof.ptoje'ctirig through holes .120 in "the front ien'ds 'ofth'e webs of;the horizontallmextending channel *beams"f4. Two ringishaped pla-tesltis'erve to holdtheitu blllanshaft;-,l;;-againstaxial *displac'emeht;with respect jtQi "the i 'i truck. Thia'sei-plats iextend" around? and)are welded to, *;-the-" e'ndsfrdf fthe I tubular shaft and are bolted tothe hole'defiiifiigportions oi the Fwlo's 'of the horlzontally'xtfidin'g.channel beamsol' l;'5 :As its :main -'or':' principal: rparts'"the: liriv' iiig s rttkets iri wards of the motor casing 22.

'Thespeed reducing unit 23 is located directly behind -the-reversipleelectric motor 22 andcomprises a housing 28, a worm; 29 and a Worm gear39 The; upper poiftionof the housing -28 surroundsthe Worm {29 v and issuitably fixedly socured to the rear endpf ;-the casingJ-B of the;electric motorjfi The rear endgof the armature shaft oi the electric:-motor -projects into. the up per portion of the housing 28; f the speedreducing unit, Theworm 29 is keyed or otherwise ijgredly secured to;the-rear end of the armature shaft 2'! and is journalled jn' 'bearingsin the upper; portion of thehousing 28. The 'lowertportionofth housjngsurrounds orv encases the the worm gear 30.

tion-o f; t h e housing 28- serverotatably to support- The; drive shaft21 extends a'hdis arranged in a transverse position so far as the;

truok is coric'erned. The central-portion-of the drive shaft eqgtendsthrough the flower, 'portion *of the housing28 of the speedreducing unit2-3 "and The ends of theshaft g4 pverliezandrpiq-jefit beyond the i'earends offjthehorizjontally extending or' iearmg'ss f fTli'e f'cliaih andfs'pfo'c channel beams 14 and are; journalled in a pairsprliclret wheelssThebearings3"|;: are2m01lnted .on a.pair of slide bars.3 5.soithatthey, together ;with.the motor, speed reducing unit and driveshaft,;are slidable longitudinally of the;truck in .a horizontal. plane.These slide. bars are welded or, otherwise fixedly securedctolthecupperfaces of a pair of elongated plates. .35.: ;The lattenas showninFiguresr2 :and 5,.exte'nd lengthwise of the truck and aremounted ontherearportions ofthetop flangesof the horizontallyaextendingflchannelsbeams. M. The bottom portions of the bearings 3 are provided withrectilineangrooves 31 in.wh.ich the upper portions otxtheslide bars 35.fit. By .slidably mounting the bearings: 3|1onethe islide bars 3 5- themotor; speed reducing unitrand drive shaft: may. be slid-or yshiftedirearwardsin order "to take up any loosenessin. the chains 34.:resu1ting= from wean- A pairof adjusting devices .38 serve'to hold thebearlugs-'3 L; inlthe various positions into which-they are slidandalsotosslide the bearings rearwards, i-."e., away from thertraction.wheelsin. connection with-.a chain take-up ,operationm Each-of theseadjusting devices,:=as shown' in'.Figures-6 and 7,comprisesahorizontally extending bo1t'39. 1 The heads of these boltsabut against thei'front por-' tions :of the bearings. 3| and the shanksextend through fixednuts 40 and. project into horizontal tubes... Thetubes. overliethefront'e'nds of the slide bars35, and are fixedlysecured in place by waybf verticallyextending plates 42 and.-hori-:Zontallyextending plates 43. The vertically-emtending plates are weldedto, and depend from, the bottom portions of the tubes and rest on'; andare welded to, the-front endsiofxthe slidebars35. The horizontal.plates, 43 are welded to the inner side portions of. the tubes andhavethe front endsqthereof welded totherearflanges of the verticallyextending channel beams I3- The nuts 40 are welded. tothe rear endsofthetubes and hence are in fixed. relation; with the truck. Thefront-portions of thebearings; are provided with vertically extendingflat surfaces against which theheads of the bolts 39 abuto. When thebolts are turnedsothat they are fed rearwards'the bearingsiil areslidrearwardsalong theslide bars 35 andv thus result in takegup of anylooseness in the chains 34 of the chain andsprocket connec-. tions- Jamnuts are mounted ,on the rear end of the shanks of the bolts 39and-coact, with. the fixed nuts 40 whentig htened to lockthe boltsinitheir variousgadjusted positions. When it is desired slidablytoadjustthe bearings 3|thejam nuts 44-arereleased soas to free the bolts 39 for.

turningpurposes. As previously pointed out, the adjusting devices 38comprising the bolts 39 serve not only to hold the bearings 3| in anydesired adjusted position on the slide bars but also to slide thebearings rearwards along the slide bars in connection with a chaintake-up operation. The adjusting devices constitute or exemplify simplemeans for shifting rearwards the unit consisting of the motor 22, thespeed reducing unit 23 and the drive shaft 24 when it is desired to takeup any looseness in the chains 34 of the chain and sprocket drivingconnections 25.

In addition to the foregoing parts or elements the truck drivingmechanism comprises a mount for the electric motor 22. This mountpermits the motor to slide horizontally in connection with adjustment ofthe bearings 3| and also cushions the motor and absorbs shock when themotor is started in connection with propulsion of the truck. As shown inFigure 3, the mount'comprises a lug 45, a bolt 46, and a pair ofresilient pads 47 and 48. The lug 45 is connected to, and depends from;thelbottonlcportion-lof the 2.6 or the electric imotor:22nandZ-Zoverlies; and is spaced slightly above, the .webypor tion ofthehorizontally extending channeljbeam t6 which; as.:previouslydescribedgservesto cross connect the horizontally extendinglltch'anneliubeamsJ4:' .1 The belt .4B-:ex-. tends verticallyv andcomprises a: shanlez49 anda head L 50 a'l herll'ead;v as shown inFigure. 3, is catedzat; the ?1OW B'1'. end of the shank central=portionc'ofxthe shank":49 extends :throu'gh' a slot e51 insthe webofxthe horizontally extending ch'annel beam 16;. The upper end: ofthesharik-extends'through a hole'l52'inthe lug 45 andembodis at its: upperextremityla; nut 53. :.The lattrfrests on the topface'of .th'el'ug 45and servesto hold the bolt 4.6 inconnectedand depending relationwith thelug. The slot 5| in the web of therhorizontally extending channel beam16 extends lengthwise of the truck. and permits the bolt to. slidehorizon tally in connection with adjustment 'of the bearings'i3|-;byway-lof th'e adjusting devices- 38, 'The' resilient Lipad'si 414 and 48serve' as s'hock absorbers' and are preferably formed 0f 5 solidvulcanized ubben. They:areringshape'dand extend around th'e-shank. 4940fthe bolt 461 The pad 41 is dis -j pos'edbetween thealug 45 andtheaupper-facebf thejslot defining portion of th'e web of thechannelbeam Hit -.A-. metallic Jwasher l? 54 f surrounds theshankuoflthezxbolt 46aand is interposed between the upperaend 10f thepad'4l and the bottom-face ofz't'he 1ug:=45,.- A washeri55surroundstheshank 4.9 ofeth'ei: bolt and vissinterposed between thelower endzof athe. padfl'4 la and. the I upper 'face of the webof'the-achannelbeam '.l6.-;' I'heresi1ient pad 48 is disposedbetweencthe bottom face'of-theweb of theichannelbeam l6 andwthe head50of the bolt 46.: A washer 5E surrounds the shank "of thejbolt and isinterposedibetween the bolt head 50 and the lower end of the pad 48. Awash'erfi'l s urrounds the bolt shank 4:9. and is interposed betweentheupper: end of the: pad '48i and lthebottom face of theweb: ofthexchan'nel beam I BJ. Whenth'e electricxmotor" 22'Tis star-tedit tendsto swing in one direction or the" other bodily' abou't the axis- 0fthedrive; shaft 2.4; depending: upon the: direction of drive;ofthearmatu're: The-pads 4! and 48 serve to; preventisuch turning.movement 1 of themotor and because of their resiliency absorbany shockincident to'starting; of 'the' motor in either-directionws-ByabsorbingIs'hock connection with startingroftthe. motor'thelife: andxefficiency of the driving'mechanism are materially increased;-The nut 53 515 1510131118.113 in a=partiallytightened position so asslightly to compress the two' -pads' 4'! and 48;? Ito's-of. thecastellat'e'd variety: and is held in place by way of a cotter pin. Thenut 53 is not so tightened as to prevent ready sliding movement of thebolt 46 in the slot 5| in connection with shift of the assembly ofmotor, speed reducing unit and drive shaft by manipulation of theadlusting device 38.

The operation of the driving mechanism is as follows: When the electricmotor 22 is driven in one direction it operates through the medium ofthe worm 29, the worm gear 30, the drive shaft 24 and the chain andsprocket connections 25 to propel the truck 8 in one direction along thetrack. Reverse drive of the electric motor operates to propel the truckin the opposite direction along the track. When the electric moto 22 isstarted in connection with drive thereof in one direction so it tends toswing upwards about the axis of the drive shaft 24 the resilient pad 48restricts and cushions upward swing of the motor and absorbs any shockincident to starting of the motor in saidone direction. c When themotor'n is started in connectionxwithcdrive thereof :in the oppositedirection .soxit tends to swing downs wards abqut theaxis ofthedriveshaft lktheiesiilient padjhis bnaughtv into playand servestorestrict and cushiondownwardswing of themotor andr. absorbs. shockincident to/starting ofthe motor for drive in SM'lIBi/BT-Sfidil'BCfiOH;When the chains 35 iofdzhe chain and sprocket drive-con!nectionsi-25rbeccme loosetdne toxiwearior use the bearings; I areshifted rearwardsvaiong thelslidenrslifi;nntihthegehaing are tightenedto theld sired fiXtBIJ-tn Rearwardrshiftloi theibearings'is eiieeted; byturning. the bolts. use, astuteffect mn wardsfeedzthereof.Aftenadjustment of the bearings. to the desired extent the .jam nuts 40.ereztie itened v 1 herein desnribed truck 'drivinglmechanism not; on y smple design but. also compact. It lcharec eiiized bit-hi h efliciency,long life and tepi y. DE. adjus ment. It issalso characterized b sfi iein tithaii w t-unitary. assemb y Qftele'ctric mnterispe dsire ucins unitand drive shaft is snnnertedsqle v bythetwo bearings 31 for the i fih ven en rthe slid ble and resilient .or cush; n wile mqlint for theeleetric smotor'. A further ehagaeteristiei of thewpresentt drivingmechanism resi es-in the fact that the drive shaft 24 is so locatedrespect to the axle 1.1 for the traction Wheels. 1.:2thai'xthe,,downwardcomponentv of: the driizecheins in eithervdinectionof operation .will more; than t Offset Lthe. motor reaction which wouldtendtoz si ethe bearings 31. cfi theslide bars 35. In whet-words, thespecific location vor arrangem rit-of thedrive, shaft. with respect Itothe axle his .SLLch that. the bearings 31 are not vertically dien ecedinconnection with operation; of the Edw n mQtQ even thoughthey; restloioselv ionv tlmrslide bars; U s r V w Whereas/the. drivemechanism hasbeen illusiaatedzes-n medium jor propelling a truck: of the ime;thatiisi used in connection with a, foundry machine. 015 thetype shownin; United-States Letters'fet'mt N0..1,774=,.0f16 it is to. beunderstood th ll theamechanism may .be used to drive-other terms oriicrms: oi trucks anda'lso. in other c'a- Bactties; -,It-is, alsoto.v beunderstood-2 that. the inyientionisnotto be restricted to thedetails setenth; since i these \may be modified within the scope cmzherapnendedclaimsswithont departing {110m "thesniiitzand. SBDDBLOfTthG. invention.t vfiavineezthus, describedv the zinventionuwhati I laim ;as1new;,anddesire to secure: by; Letters its/tent,is;. U v a v Eriilinggmechanismadapted for use in .con-

neiition with a supportingstructure-having a rctatable element thereon;and comprising a besting'sdispesed adj acent: the element; and mountedomtheistructure totmove to and from said ele mentfian assembly embodyingan electric'rmoto'r, aispeed reducing unitconnected' tor drive'bythemotor; and. a. driveishaft connected fort drive by theiunitT'andjournallediin the bearing, and movablez'ana unit with sai'dsbearingand-also tiltable aboutthe axis: at the shaft-,1 achain. and:v sprocketdrivingeconnectionxbetweenthe shaft and .the element; and. a mountbetween :the supporting Structure and the" assembly arranged to.permitmmcements. of." the assembly in; connections with movement oLthe 1bearing 5 and-.also yieldingiyzto mihtilting: of theassemblyr ineitherdirection.

i2-:DxiYin meqhariismadaptedfor use in conect n with allppflnting'strufltuife haying arohabitable: element thereon;andicomprising a bearin 'idiSDQSBd adjacent. the elementandmountcdoaths-structure tomovetoiand from said: ele ment, an) assemblyembodying atreversible: electric; -motor,, a; speed reducing unityconnected 'for; drive lint-he motor, and aidrivashaft connectedfervdriveybx theunit; journalled' in the bearing, and movable-as a unitwith saidabearing and elscrrtiltable about the, axis of theshatt, a.chain and tsprocket driving connection between the shafitrand; theelement,;:andt supporting means betweenthe supporting structure and themotor arrangedand designed to permit movementot the assembly invconnectionwith movement of thehearing, and valsoi yieldinglyi to limittilting ofzthe. assemblyfin eithep direction. it 13. The-combinationwith a truck having a, pair ofilaterallyspacedzcoaxial traction wheelstherefor; ofi acpainof .bea-rings disposed over and to onerside :of thewheels respectively and mounted QmJtheotruck soasto slide horizontallyto and from the -.whee1s,z:a,n assembly-embodying an electric." motor,-a: speed reducing 'um't connected forirdriveiby. ,the motor, and a'driveshafe con-' nected; foridrive by the unit and having-theendsthereof: journalled in thebearings and connected by chainiand sprocketconnection to the -wheels, anctsmovable-ias a unit with=said-bearingsand alsoliti-ltable in eithemdirectionabout the axis of the:shaftg-treleasable I means onthe truck' for hblding thelbeanings m thevariouspositions into whichz they: are moved, and cushion typesupporting means between the tr'uck'and the motor arranged to permitmovement of the assembly in connection with movement of the I bearingsand also yielding-1ytolimit tilting of the assembly t i. is-1M-URR.AY-G.-CLAY;--

